Extortion gangs target new language school arrivals

Lee Jing Min says he was beaten up after he refused to pay "protection" money. Picture / Dean Purcell

Lee Jing Min had only just arrived in New Zealand to study English when a group of students from his language school turned up at his home demanding "protection" money.

The three men wanted $200 from him but, unlike his friends, who handed over amounts of $400 and $1500 to the men, Mr Lee would not pay up.

Mr Lee, 25, said he was one of the few students who put up a fight.

He suffered a minor beating by the group, who then handed him their phone number and asked if he wanted to join their racket. He said the beating would be done by someone who had gained citizenship so they would not be deported if caught.

Mr Lee, who is now a graphic designer, said extortion within language schools was rife when he was studying three years ago.

Police say it still happens but students are now more informed about New Zealand laws and are willing to come forward.

Mr Lee said young Chinese people coming to study in New Zealand were told their life would be "made very hard" if they did not pay.

The extortionists were often fellow students. They would pick out new arrivals, intimidate them for a certain amount of money and then move on to the next student, said Mr Lee.

"The problem was that I was new here and I did not know how to contact police, and my English was no good," he said. Mr Lee also feared retribution if he contacted the authorities.

Detective Inspector Bernie Hollewand, who has led the investigation into the killing of Wan Biao, said one reaction in the Chinese community to the murder has been concern about the vulnerability of international students. He said extortion happened but schools were reporting it and students come forward to police.

The police's Asian people liaison officer visited international schools to tell new students that extortion is unlawful and should be reported to their school or the police, said Mr Hollewand.

"The incidents of extortion and kidnapping have dropped off markedly in recent years.

"Those that we know about, those that are reported are very unsuccessful and nearly always end up in prison."